Always together

It was now cue for Malick to gasp and glare, along with Charlotte.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked. Grace gave out a shrug too, just to tick him off. "Grace." He gave a warning look.

"I'm doing whatever you are planning to do." She spoke slowly, watching his reaction. She knew that he wouldn't blow here, in front of everyone. "If I'm going to loose my uncle through this, then I want to die with him too."

"Don't speak nonsense like that!" He raised his voice. "And you're not stable, why did you even sign up?"

She gave him another shrug.

"Grace."

She shrugged again.

"Grace, that's-" he was interrupted again by Charlotte.

She stepped forward with her chin held up. "Charlotte Dickson."

"NO!" Both Grace and her uncle yelled at once. Was she mad?! She was pregnant for gods sake! Malick cursed under his breath for not thinking this meeting through properly.

"I want to come too!" She argued back. "I want to see what killed my husband! And Grace, you're going!"

"I'm going because I'm stable and I can." she reasoned. "You can't, definitely a no."

"What the hell is going on here?" An unknown voice interrupted the 'family feud'. "Why are you fighting? Didn't you say that the person picks themselves?"

"But these two are off limits." Uncle grumbled under his breath.

Grace snickered lowly, annoyed at him. "I'm fine, I can go. It's Charlotte, she cannot."

"Yes," Jude added, "You're pregnant, aren't you?"

How does he know? Grace wondered glancing at Charlotte to find her giving the high schooler a stern look. Grace turned to find Jude give her friend as apologetic glance.

Suddenly, a few of the members started to protest. Most were scolding her and asking if she was insane to think of going to the mountains with a baby growing inside of her.

Once the place was settled again, Lucas spoke up. "It's fine, she can't come anyways. We can't take many people with us."

"Count me in too." Mathew's voice interrupted. He stepped forward. "Mathew Johnson."

"Matt, are you out of your mind?!" The boy with him asked. Mathew shook his head and patted the boy's back. Grace didn't miss the small smile that flashed across his perfect face.

"I'll be fine." He nodded at Lucas as he ticked the name off. "They need all the help."

"What about me?" The boy asked. Even from across the room, Grace could see the tears forming around his eyes.

"You'll be fine kiddo." That man didn't know how to take care of children. "You can stay with aunty Susan while I'm away, and then when I come back, we can go back home."

Great, thought Grace, now I've got to pretend that the guy's not there even though his presence is going to make me explode in the future.

"Alright then," Lucas nodded to himself. Uncle didn't say anything as he stayed glaring at the chair in front of him. "We've got a team. It'll be Malick and Grace Walter, Fred Rocke, Jude Collin, Anne Moree, Mathew Johnson and I. A total of seven."

Lucas turned to Mathew, waiting fo him to continue. It took a second for the man to glance up and fold his arms across, getting to business. "Alright, the team will get together tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock sharp; we start at twelve. The rest of you's will be taking care of the town while we're gone. Ryne will be leading you; you can meet up here at one in the afternoon, tomorrow to discuss that with her. I've given her a few tasks but some might have to delay since our team has very smart people." He looked around the room glaring at a few of them. Grace wondered if he was referring to her or the high schoolers. "Any questions?"

There was that dead pause again.

"Alright then, everyone's dismissed. Don't stay outside for long, get home as quickly as you can, we don't know what's going to happen tonight. I'm pretty sure that nothing would happen, but we don't want to risk it. Thank you for those who've volunteered and have put their lives on the line."

He didn't meet his niece's eyes again as he made his way through the back door. Now she's going to have to deal with Susan when she gets back.

Soon, everyone started to leave; not wanting to stay and wait for the storm again. Mathew's glance lingered on Grace before he took his brother with him, back home for the night.

"Grace, my love," a soft, melody like voice woke her up. "Come on now, wake up."

Grace lifted her head, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she looked around her room. The expensive looking vase on the bedside table and Charlotte's sleeping figure reminded her that it wasn't her own room. Just like that, the recent events from the day before rushed into her head, making it pound and increase her heart beat. Her breath ragged as she noticed only half of the moon illuminated the night. Then how was it possible for the room to shine bright even with the lights off? Grace studied the room one more time noticing that the place was clear but still something very off about it gave Grace a little shiver down her spin through her pajamas. Ever since the storm, Grace felt a need to do something more; something out of ordinary and this feeling didn't help at all.

"Grace?"

The girl jerked her head around, back to Charlotte's side of the bed and caught herself from screaming in alarm.

"Don't worry," the female spoke ever so elegantly. "I'm not the bad guy." The slender figure walked away from the bed and moved across the room making minimum noice. She looked gorgeous with her beautiful gown and necklace. "How do you feel?"

Grace didn't know what to say. She watched the lady in front of her make her way towards her. "I-" she hesitated. "What-"

The goddess-like lady smiled, making the room light up brighter. "I know that you're confused, or shocked, or anything that you're supposed to feel when you find a stranger in your room at midnight." Her voice made Grace think of honey and apples.

"This isn't my room."

"I know." She replied. She leaned forward and placed a hand on Grace's cheek. "Just listen to me."

Grace nodded, finding herself getting lost in a world full of fantasy as her palm heated her up. It wasn't making her feel hot and uncomfortable, but warm, secure and safe. Grace searched for answers to unknown questions through the lady's eyes, as they spoke deep meanings that she couldn't understand.

"Who are you?" She finally breathing out. There was something familiar about the lady's light brown eyes. Grace wanted to turn and see if Charlotte had woken up, but couldn't find the courage to look away.

"Not very important now my dear." She spoke soft as a feather. "You must listen very carefully to what I have for you. The journey that you're going to take is not going to be easy. You will not be 'the you' who you think you are."

Grace furrowed her eyebrows.

"You have so much courage in you, it will guide you the way to life. Make selfless decisions in the mountains and keep the team together. You are not who you think you are, you are so much more." She paused sighing in sadness. "You must avenge your father Grace."

Grace snapped out of her dream. Suddenly, her hands flew to her necklace and grabbed onto it, to keep it safe and hidden from the lady. "My father?" She asked leaning away from the warm hands. "How do you know my dad? Who are you?" She waited for an answer, "How did you get here? I'll scream." She warned.

The lady took her hands back to her sides. "I knew your father better than anyone. He was one of a kind." Grace didn't like the way she spoke of her dad. "And I, my child, am someone well-intended to you. You will know when time comes."

She stepped away, making more room between the two. Grace leaned forward, getting her legs out of the tangled bedsheets.

"Your father sends the best for you." Grace thought that she saw a tear slip out of those precious eyes. "And I will always be there for you, you'll never be alone. Believe in yourself and live for the ones you love. Take what you've learned and use it to enhance your strength."

Suddenly, Grace felt her heart start to speed its beat. Her breaths uneven as she reached out to the elder. Only then does she come to a realization: the brightness, it came from the lady. It was as if, she was producing such thing and was talking control over the world itself. Grace could feel her headache starting to make its way again as she glanced at the figure, now starting to blur.

What's going on? She thought to herself trying to clear her mind. Something was holding onto her from the inside.

"Remember Grace," the woman said, fading. Her lips moved to form words but Grace couldn't hear anything. She tried to ask her to repeat but couldn't open her mouth as the stranger smiled at her, warming her heart before fully fading away, taking the light with her.

Grace sat up from the bed, panting. Sweet built up across her forehead as she leaned against the bed and rubbed her face a few times to calm down. The bedsheets were tangled to a side as her legs laid open to the cold morning.

"You okay?" Charlotte's voice startled her as she let out a yelp before calming her heart. Grace nodded rubbing her chest as she swung her legs out of bed. "Bad dream?" Grace only nodded. "Get changed and come out for breakfast quickly, we have stuff to do before you leave." She informed Grace, rubbing a towel through her wet, blonde hair. She had a new dress on that hugged her body, making her look like one of the expensive new models that Grace had interviewed.

Grace made her way into the attached bathroom, with her clothes for the day in her arms. Once she heard the door click locked in place, she let go of the handle and placed the clothes on the counter, discovering herself in the mirror. She was a medium sized girl, but now she looked thin from the minimum food and the constant fear of dying in the storm. Her old pyjamas consumed her frame and her black hair resembled a bird's nest. Her face looked as if it was run down by a bus and her light brown eyes looked faded. Every cell in her body screamed in agony, telling her to go back to the bed and get some proper rest with no 'teams' or nightmares.

The thought of dreams made Grace think back to her night and another familiar shiver ran down her spine.

Your father sends the best for you.

Why did the dream seem so real? Grace thought to herself, rubbing her arms back and forth to stop the hairs from standing in all directions. Her ring grazed softly, reminding her of her hero. It was gifted to her when she'd become a teenager, a bit big but soon fitted her middle finger as she grew older.

You will know when time comes.

What did the dream mean? She whispered in her head as she pealed her clothes off, leaving the chain on her neck. What was she trying to tell me to remember?

The mess of nonsense thoughts vanished into thin air as the cold water spattered on her face, washing away most of the pain. Grace sighed as she rubbed smooth lines with the soap on her stomach. So much has happened in the span of a week and she didn't know how to sort everything out without stressing. She expected herself to be confused and become a complete mess, it was like a pattern in her family, for the first borns are always the more stressed ones. She wasn't a first born, but her father had told her that its normal for her to stress out on everything and have it ordered in organization before making a plan to remove it.

The memories of the once peaceful NorthWood flashed its past in Grace's eyes as she heard Charlotte order her to come out faster. The place was like none other, the people kept to themselves most of the time unless they need to communicate. Sometimes they converse and get together as if they were a whole family and for some reason, Grace always felt intrigued and left out.

The girl, looked better after the shower as she smiled a little to cheer herself up and for the sake of her aunt. She was strong, just as her father always encouraged her as.

"What took you so long?" Charlotte bombard with questions and stood up from the bed. She hair now in a professionally done braid on both sides. "Come on, we need to get you a few things from the stores for the quest. I know that you have most of everything but aunt Susan insisted that we go."

"Oh god," Grace let out a worried expression as she made her side of the cream colored blanketed bed, "she���s not coming along though, right?" Charlotte shook her head confused. "Thank god." Grace whispered straightening up. She clearly remembered the last time her aunt had insisted on a shopping spree; it was almost midnight by the time they'd returned home. "Alright, let's go."

Last night, after Malick dismissed everyone from the bakery, Susan had burst out at the back. She scolded Malick for letting Grace talk her way into the team and banned him from touching her when they get back from the mountains. Grace was shocked to hear about her uncle's love life while Charlotte only gasped along with Malick and tried to help out the poor man who looked near to crying in sadness.

Susan was mad at Grace, to say the least, but soon decided that there was no going back on the past. She strictly told her to stick to her uncle's side, to which Grace had no complaint on, and asked her promise to not get hurt.

Malick didn't like the promise quote so the promise was not made and he was able to cover it up by showering his wife with kisses, again: something Grace didn't want to keep in memory.

The two girls had their breakfast and were walking through the street malls, when a strong wind pushed them to the side, onto the metal chairs. Grace gripped onto the sightseeing chair, holding onto Charlotte's free hand as they waited for something to happen. Soon, the wind died down and left the two girls alone.

"What was that?" Charlotte asked spacing out. The color of her blue eyes started to fade as her grip on Grace tightened.

"Charlotte?" Grace asked worried, turning around the streets to see if anyone was with them. They were the only ones out. "Are you okay?" She didn't get a response as she pulled Charlotte back onto her feet. Suddenly, without warning, Charlotte grabbed Grace's shoulders wearing a worried look. Grace jumped in fright before calming herself.

"Are you okay?" Charlotte asked back. "It's been so long since something out of ordinary happened to me, so I'm out of touch to protect you."

"What are you talking about? It's me who has to protect you." Grace looked at Charlotte as if she's grown two heads and grabbed the bags from her hand.

"Hey!" A voice made Grace jump up and turn to the source. Lucas was jogging towards them from across the street. "You guys okay?"

"Yeah," Grace frowned.

"Did you feel that?" Charlotte asked Lucas as the older man shook his head.

"I was a couple of stores down when I heard you. What happened?"

"How did you-"

Grace was cut off by Charlotte. "There was that weird wind again," she explained. "Felt strangely like the one a week back. But it didn't last long, like it was loosing power. There's something out there Lucas."

Grace looked back and forth at the two as she tried to process on what they were talking about. Lucas only patted Charlotte and turned towards Grace.

"Do you feel anything?" He asked her to which she shook her head. "Do you feel lightheaded? As if something's inside you? Maybe a little headache? Do you feel like as if you're seeping into the darkness?"

Grace frowned, "only with the nonsense you're talking about…" she answered after a few seconds. Lucas nodded, somehow happy with her answer. "What are you guys talking about?!"

Lucas pursed his lips together, "the wind?" He turned to Charlotte who nodded eagerly. "Yeah, the wind. Why? What did you think that we're talking about?"

"Um…" Grace watched the two, trying to get her brain to work, but failed miserably. "Nothing."

The other two nodded and Lucas wished them luck on their shopping before disappearing from where he came from. Charlotte dragged the confused Grace into one of the stores, gushing about the fact she'd need to go baby-clothes shopping soon.

Whenever Grace tried to figure out what had happened outside, her friend would change the topic subtly and she soon stopped thinking about it. She'd ask Lucas when they hike the mountains.

Charlotte glanced at her friend in-between seconds and made sure that she stayed close behind. With what'd happened to the town and Tommy dead, Charlotte knew that letting Grace go with Malick and the others is a bad idea. But she had no say in this, when that neighbor of her's gets comfortable on one decision, there's no talk to remove it. Charlotte just couldn't stop that feeling she gets since Grace announced that she was going along. Something was going to happen, Charlotte could feel it through her sandals.

They were back at the house, after buying a few balms and a bottle of pepper-spray. Everyone was in the dining room, gathering around the table, waiting for Susan to give out orders to what to do.

The dining table was filled with fruit baskets and paper bags. The chairs were scattered around because Susan's been sitting around, moving from one chair to the other. The cupboards that stood on one side of the room was the only thing untouched while the rest of the place was a mess, a mess that would take only a day for Susan to clean up.

Grace stood near the doorway, fiddling with her ring. As she glanced around the room, she couldn't help but notice the small scratch on the corner of the wooden table. The scratch formed into an animal that Grace always wondered why it was printed on the table. It's something that caught her eye every single time she invites herself over to the Walter household. She would always sit on the chair closest to the scratch and rub her fingers over it as she conversed with her aunt.

"I hope you understand how serious this is," Susan stole Grace's attention again. The said lady was now sitting on one of the dining chairs, facing Grace. Malick stood next to his niece though he didn't directly speak with her. Charlotte stood on the other side of the room, near the cupboards, away from the mess. When the two had returned home, they got informed that Lucas had pooped his head before going to pack his thing up.

Now, after they'd explained the wind and the weird haunting feeling they'd both felt on the roads, Susan was finding it harder to let the girl go.

"Trust me Susan," Malick repeated his dialogue. "There won't be any of those things disturbing us any time soon."

"How would you know?" Grace asked before she could stop her mouth.

Malick turned to her, not giving any kind of expression before turning away again. "You'd said the wind felt weaker right? Then that means, it will be weaker next time too. Soon, it would fade out."

"Let's hope so." Charlotte scoffed, twirling her hair with two of her fingers.

"No matter what happens," Susan spoke to the uncle and the niece. "If the winds come back or if nothing bad happens at all; both of you, stick together and protect each other. Got it?" The two of them nodded in fear for the lady. She was glaring at her husband the whole time as she told them to pack up and then they were dismissed to their stay-rooms. Grace filled her backpack with neat food, a pair of clothing and other essential things.

"Don't wander off by yourself." Aunt Susan warned Grace as she checked the girl up and down one last time.

Grace wore a black track pants with a grey blouse that stuck to her body like second skin. Her arm was exposed but clothing wasn't in her way to moving which was always a better choice. Grace had her hair in a pony with a bag on her shoulder. To finish her outfit for the hike, she wore a pair of black and white sports shoes that Charlotte had found in the stores.

"It's the least you could do for me, after going against my liking. Everyone who's accompanying along are strong and sharp at what they do, you need to keep yourself safe, even if your uncle's there to protect you." She glared at her husband before focusing on her niece once again. "The mountains are the most dangerous place for our kind, please don't get lost."

"Don't worry aunty," Grace assured her. "I'll have Anne with me."

"What?"

"Anne Moree?" Grace reminded her, "the high school girl."

Susan hesitated for a second before nodding. "Fine, but care for your health than the others." Grace playfully glared at her aunt before tightening her hold on the strap of her bag. "And the funerals," she reminded. "We are planning to do them after you've all returned."

Grace sucked in a breath. "Are they doing my dad back there?"

"No," Grace looked back at her aunt surprised. "Your mother plans to do the ceremony here, so they'll be arriving at the town in two days." Grace felt the fresh tears start to make their way down her tanned skin making Susan wipe it fo her and cupped her cheeks. "Don't worry too much love, everyone's here to help you through this. You're not alone."

I will always be there for you, you'll never be alone.

"Are you ready?" Uncle Malick's deep voice startled the two as they separated. "We've got to go."

Aunt Susan nodded hiding her worried face in her overly grown fringe. Grace only noticed how old her aunt looked and felt. The once brave hairlines were now supporting gray strands and there were more wrinkles evident on her face. She was still beautiful but it startled her a little. None of her family showed age as they grew. Aunt Susan was the only one. Even uncle Malick looked too young for his age.

Susan encouraged the girl by rubbing her arms and pushed her a little forward to go. Grace understood, leaving the old couple some time together and met up with the team in the bakery, punctually. Malick made his way to his wife and pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead. Susan felt the same feeling she always felt whenever her husband embraced or stared at her. A small feel of electricity rushed from the spot he'd kissed and touched the core of her heart.

"Protect her with all you've got."

"I will." He promised. "She was going to leave one way or the other, I guess this is the time. She'll find out, you know."

"I know," Susan sighed, tired of all the events.

"There's no way for us to go on foot the whole way, we'll need to change the transportation as we go in deeper. Once we reach the border, I don't know what to expect. It's been long since someones went in or came out."

"I know."

"I love you."

"Stay safe Malick, as much as the town needs your service, you're still mine to love and cherish."

"I love you so much."

"Me too." Susan gave a ghostly smile.

"Say it." Malick whined like a child. "Or, I won't let go."

"I don't mind that."

"Susan." He warned his other half playfully.

"Fine," Susan gave in, smiling like a teenager. "I love you more than you ever will love me."

"I don't think that's possible." He challenged, peeking her lips. "I'll see you in a few weeks and we'll finish that kiss."

Susan nodded, heart heavy as she got her husband ready and walked out the house with him by her side. The rest of the team were waiting, none spoke, as they watched the old couple smile at one another before standing up straight to leave. Charlotte pulled Grace to a side, giving a hug and whispering to stay safe. The group silently made their way out, giving each other glances. Ryne met with them outside and hugged Malick, wishing him good luck.

"Use the walkie with me before midnight as soon as you can." She stated, clasping onto a folder as if it held top secret notes. Malick nodded, gesturing the team to move forward. "It's hard to not have phones to contact all of a sudden."

Malick shook his head, chuckling lowly, "It shouldn't be a problem fo you though." They laughed together, Susan joining in. Malick nodded silently at Lucas and smiled at the two women. "We'll get going now."